Sesame Street Dead-ended in Israel

“Sesame Street,” the American educational television series for pre-school-age children, was turned down for Israel TV today by a special committee appointed by Yigal Allon, Deputy Premier and Minister of Education. According to the committee, headed by Prof. Avraham Minkowich of the Hebrew University, the series–which has been widely lauded by educators and parents–is entertaining but not educational enough for Israeli children.

The committee also objected to the use of pigs to explain numbers, on grounds that they would offend certain segments of the Israeli population. (In New York, a spokesman for the Children’s Television Workshop, which produces “Sesame Street,” said the show was being shown on TV networks in 30 foreign countries and in 20 others over Armed Forces TV. The series begins its third year next week.) The BBC also recently rejected the program as unsuitable for its audience.